Swinney Under Fire for “Clemson Way”
Dabo Swinney turned a simple question this week into a 13-minute defense of his program’s past success, but national voices aren’t convinced.
On3’s Josh Pate says the head coach is up against the lofty standard he created — and without changes, Clemson may never return to championship heights. Pate questioned whether Swinney’s resistance to the transfer portal and reliance on in-house development can still deliver elite results, noting that this year’s team was built to showcase that philosophy. Instead, the Tigers are 1-2 and already out of the AP Top 25, leaving serious doubts about whether the “Clemson way” can compete in today’s college football landscape.
Klubnik’s Stock Takes a Hit
Senior quarterback Cade Klubnik opened the season as a projected No. 1 overall draft pick and Heisman hopeful. Three games in, scouts are backpedaling. His 59.2 completion percentage is his lowest in four years, and turnovers have piled up quickly.
ESPN’s Matt Miller says NFL evaluators now see him closer to a Day 3 pick, with one scout calling him “way too overhyped.” Injuries to key teammates — including Antonio Williams and All-ACC guard Walker Parks — haven’t helped, but Klubnik’s track record shows he can rebound. Just last year he threw 36 touchdowns and racked up over 4,100 all-purpose yards. The question now is whether he can rediscover that level before the season slips away.
Bowl Projections Shift Dramatically
The Tigers entered 2025 as a preseason playoff favorite. Three weeks later, they’re being projected for mid-tier bowls. USA TODAY slots Clemson into the Gator Bowl, ESPN has them in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, and CBS sees a trip to the Holiday Bowl. Saturday’s 24-21 loss at Georgia Tech — sealed by a 55-yard game-winner — dropped Clemson out of the rankings and underscored ongoing issues on both sides of the ball. With Syracuse up next at Death Valley, Swinney’s group faces a critical chance to stop the skid and reset expectations.